All Roll Calls
Yes: 676 • No: 230
South CarolinaS 0508126th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 10-1-165, RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF CERTAIN MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS, SO AS TO EXPAND THE TYPE OF MONUMENTS OR MEMORIALS THAT MAY NOT BE RELOCATED, REMOVED, OR DISTURBED, TO AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY JOINT RESOLUTION, TO TAKE ACTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN MONUMENTS, TO ALLOW FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH AN AFFINITY ORGANIZATION MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION TO PREVENT CERTAIN ACTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN MONUMENTS.
Sponsored By: Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Monument and Memorial Protection
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Add names and update service memorials
Beginning May 19, 2026, a group monument may add names of people who were unknown or did not qualify when it was first built. The new names must match the original style and format. Actively maintained memorials for U.S. service members, the National Guard, reserves, law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders may add or update names and service details. These updates must fit the original purpose and cannot lead to moving or removing the monument.
Nonprofits can sue to protect monuments
Beginning May 19, 2026, registered affinity and monument-preservation nonprofits can sue to stop or fix violations of this law. An affinity group must give at least 90 days’ written notice and a chance to fix damage before suing over a damaged or destroyed monument. Courts may award only the reasonable cost to repair, restore, or replace the monument, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs to a winning plaintiff. The Department of Archives and History must set rules for maintaining, restoring, and replacing monuments. Courts and public bodies must apply this law in a way that protects free speech, the press, assembly, petitions, and association.
Stronger limits on changing public monuments
Beginning May 19, 2026, monuments on state or local public property cannot be moved, removed, or changed. Streets, bridges, buildings, parks, and other public places named for historic people or events cannot be renamed or rededicated. Only the General Assembly, by joint resolution, can approve these actions. New plaques, signs, or digital message devices that were not part of the original monument are not allowed on or near it.
Monuments can move for projects, with rules
Beginning May 19, 2026, agencies may move a monument for road, bridge, or other roadway work, but must return it to its original or nearby spot when the work ends. For public utility work or government construction or renovation, a monument may be moved to public property of equal or greater prominence and visibility in the same local area, or removed during the project and then returned. If land with a monument is sold to a private owner, the monument must be moved as soon as practical to public property of equal or greater prominence and visibility in the same political subdivision. When a named government building is demolished, plaques and markers must be saved and placed in the new building with equal or greater prominence, or displayed elsewhere if there is no replacement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Brian Adams
Republican • Senate
Thomas C. Alexander
Republican • Senate
Sean M. Bennett
Republican • Senate
Allen Blackmon
Republican • Senate
Lee Bright
Republican • Senate
George E. "Chip" Campsen III
Republican • Senate
Richard J. Cash
Republican • Senate
JD Chaplin
Republican • Senate
Wes Climer
Republican • Senate
Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin
Republican • Senate
Ronnie W. Cromer
Republican • Senate
Tom Davis
Republican • Senate
Tom Fernandez
Republican • Senate
Michael W. Gambrell
Republican • Senate
Billy Garrett
Republican • Senate
Stephen L. Goldfinch
Republican • Senate
Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms
Republican • Senate
Greg Hembree
Republican • Senate
Michael Johnson
Republican • Senate
Carlisle Kennedy
Republican • Senate
Josh Kimbrell
Republican • Senate
Matthew W. "Matt" Leber
Republican • Senate
Shane R. Martin
Republican • Senate
A. Shane Massey
Republican • Senate
Nutt
Affiliation unavailable
Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Mike Reichenbach
Republican • Senate
Rex F. Rice
Republican • Senate
Ross Turner
Republican • Senate
Tom Young, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Jeff Zell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/14/2026
(Monuments)Adopt Conference Report
Yes: 79 • No: 28
Senate vote • 5/14/2026
(Monuments)to adopt the conference report
Yes: 40 • No: 0
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monuments)Table Amendment 11 Amendment number 11
Yes: 74 • No: 28
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monument and Memorial Protection)Table Amendment 13 Amendment number 13
Yes: 70 • No: 26
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monuments)Passage of Bill
Yes: 74 • No: 28
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monuments)Table Amendment 13 Amendment number 13
Yes: 70 • No: 26
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monuments)Table Amendment 10 Amendment number 10
Yes: 74 • No: 28
House vote • 5/7/2026
(Monuments)Table Amendment 6 Amendment number 6
Yes: 74 • No: 27
Senate vote • 4/15/2026
(Monuments)to lay on the table Amendment number 16
Yes: 31 • No: 10
Senate vote • 4/15/2026
(Monuments)to lay on the table Amendment number 15
Yes: 28 • No: 15
Senate vote • 4/15/2026
(Monuments)3rd Reading
Yes: 31 • No: 7
Senate vote • 4/15/2026
(Monument and Memorial Protection)3rd Reading
Yes: 31 • No: 7
Actions Timeline
Effective date 05/19/26
6/5/2026legislatureAct No. 224
6/3/2026legislatureSigned By Governor
5/19/2026GovernorRatified R 228
5/15/2026legislatureConference report enrolled for ratificatiom
5/14/2026SenateRoll call Ayes-40 Nays-0
5/14/2026SenateConference report received and adopted
5/14/2026SenateRoll call Yeas-79 Nays-28
5/14/2026HouseConference report received and adopted
5/14/2026HouseConference committee appointed Verdin, Goldfinch, Sutton
5/13/2026SenateHouse insists upon amendment and conference committee appointed Reps. T Moore, Taylor, Govan
5/13/2026HouseNon-concurrence in House amendment
5/12/2026SenateRead third time and returned to Senate with amendments
5/12/2026HouseRoll call Yeas-74 Nays-28
5/7/2026HouseRead second time
5/7/2026HouseAmended
5/7/2026HouseRequests for debate-Rep
5/6/2026HouseDebate adjourned until Wed., 5-6-26
5/5/2026HouseDebate adjourned until Tues., 5-5-26
4/30/2026HouseScrivener's error corrected
4/30/2026legislatureCommittee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
4/29/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Judiciary
4/16/2026HouseIntroduced and read first time
4/16/2026HouseRoll call Ayes-31 Nays-7
4/15/2026SenateRead third time and sent to House
4/15/2026Senate
Bill Text
Introduced
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